Perspective adjustable viewing apparatus with base suction device for locking to surfaces

Abstract

A viewing apparatus that is securable (lockable) to surfaces includes a mirror, a base, and an interconnection assembly between the base and the mirror. The base includes a suction device for selectively locking or unlocking the viewing apparatus to/from a mounting surface. The suction device utilizes a lifter and an internal coupler that drives the lifter, responsive to user operation of a lock/unlock selector, to reposition a flexible diaphragm increasing or decreasing the volume of a space between an underside surface of the suction device and the mounting surface depending upon a direction of rotation of the selector.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A viewing apparatus that is selectively securable to surfaces, the viewing apparatus comprising:
 a mirror; 
 a base; and 
 an interconnection assembly between the mirror and the base; 
 wherein the base is configured to allow a user to selectively lock or unlock the viewing apparatus to/from a surface and includes a housing, a suction device supporting the housing, a lifter connected to the suction device, a lock/unlock selector supported by and rotatable in relation to the housing, and a coupler including guide surfaces, the coupler being operatively interconnected between interior surfaces of the selector and drive contacts of the lifter, the coupler repositioning with the selector as the selector is rotationally repositioned in relation to the housing, the guide surfaces raising or lowering the lifter and a central portion of the suction device in relation to the housing as the coupler is rotationally repositioned increasing or decreasing a volume of a space between an underside surface of the suction device and the surface depending upon a direction of rotation of the selector in relation to the housing to lock or unlock the viewing apparatus, respectively; 
 wherein the coupler includes a generally cylindrical coupler main body and a pair of wings extending from opposite sides of the coupler main body. 
 
     
     
       2. The viewing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the interconnection assembly includes arms and pivot joints configured to facilitate repositionability of the arms in relation to each other. 
     
     
       3. The viewing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the suction device includes a flexible diaphragm and the lifter is secured within the central portion and adjacent to the flexible diaphragm. 
     
     
       4. The viewing apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the selector, the coupler and the lifter are configured such that the lifter is raised upward in relation to the coupler and the housing as the coupler repositions driven by the selector, the lifter raising the central portion of the flexible diaphragm in relation to the housing increasing the volumetric size of the space between the bottom of the flexible diaphragm and the surface upon with the base is located thereby creating vacuum suction. 
     
     
       5. The viewing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the suction device includes a flexible suction interface portion, and the lifter includes a disc-shaped lower portion enclosed within the flexible suction interface portion. 
     
     
       6. The viewing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the housing includes, as structural portions extending through an interior portion of the base circumscribed by the lock/unlock selector, dual wing stops against which the wings are repositioned when the selector is moved to an unlock position of the selector. 
     
     
       7. The viewing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the lock/unlock selector is provided in the form of a rotatable ring having an exterior including raised surface portions configured to facilitate easier visual or tactile identification of the selector and gripability. 
     
     
       8. A viewing apparatus that is selectively securable to surfaces, the viewing apparatus comprising:
 a mirror; 
 a base; and 
 an interconnection assembly between the mirror and the base; 
 wherein the base is configured to allow a user to selectively lock or unlock the viewing apparatus to/from a surface and includes a housing, a suction device supporting the housing, a lifter connected to the suction device, a lock/unlock selector supported by and rotatable in relation to the housing, and a coupler including guide surfaces, the coupler being operatively interconnected between interior surfaces of the selector and drive contacts of the lifter, the coupler repositioning with the selector as the selector is rotationally repositioned in relation to the housing, the guide surfaces raising or lowering the lifter and a central portion of the suction device in relation to the housing as the coupler is rotationally repositioned increasing or decreasing a volume of a space between an underside surface of the suction device and the surface depending upon a direction of rotation of the selector in relation to the housing to lock or unlock the viewing apparatus, respectively; 
 wherein the coupler includes a pair of wings, and the selector includes two pairs of vertical fins at opposite sides of the selector, each pair defining a channel within which one of the wings is located. 
 
     
     
       9. A viewing apparatus that is selectively securable to surfaces, the viewing apparatus comprising:
 a mirror; 
 a base; and 
 an interconnection assembly between the mirror and the base; 
 wherein the base is configured to allow a user to selectively lock or unlock the viewing apparatus to/from a surface and includes a housing, a suction device supporting the housing, a lifter connected to the suction device, a lock/unlock selector supported by and rotatable in relation to the housing, and a coupler including guide surfaces, the coupler being operatively interconnected between interior surfaces of the selector and drive contacts of the lifter, the coupler repositioning with the selector as the selector is rotationally repositioned in relation to the housing, the guide surfaces raising or lowering the lifter and a central portion of the suction device in relation to the housing as the coupler is rotationally repositioned increasing or decreasing a volume of a space between an underside surface of the suction device and the surface depending upon a direction of rotation of the selector in relation to the housing to lock or unlock the viewing apparatus, respectively; 
 wherein the drive contacts of the lifter are provided in the form of upper and lower drive bars. 
 
     
     
       10. The viewing apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the coupler includes a generally cylindrical coupler main body and a pair of wings extending from opposite sides of the coupler main body. 
     
     
       11. The viewing apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the coupler includes ridges/transitions located along the guide surfaces and is configured such that movement of the coupler through or substantially through its full angular range of movement, defined and limited at opposite ends thereof by stops within the housing, advances the upper and lower drive bars sufficiently far around curved paths defined by the guide surfaces to move the drive bars past the ridges/transitions and into recesses of the coupler, after which suction created by so repositioning the drive bars locks the base to the surface. 
     
     
       12. The viewing apparatus of  claim 9 ,
 wherein the interconnection assembly is coupled or connected between the mirror and the base, the interconnection assembly including an adjustable arm and a height lock/unlock device, the adjustable arm including a pair of interfitting tubes which are interfitted and telescopically slidable in relation to each other when in an unlocked configuration of the adjustable arm, the pair of interfitting tubes including an inner tube and an outer tube coupled to the base, the lock/unlock device including a sleeve fitted about the inner tube and an extender secured to and within the upper end of the outer tube, the sleeve having a threaded and tapered interior portion that interfits with threaded and tapered exterior portions at and defined by slots along a distal end of the extender, the sleeve and the extender being configured such that the sleeve when repositioned toward the extender bears against and inwardly repositions extender portions at the distal end to frictionally engage with the inner tube preventing the inner tube and the outer tube from repositioning in relation to each other in a locked configuration of the adjustable arm. 
 
     
     
       13. The viewing apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the inner tube fits within the extender, and is slidable in relation to the extender when the adjustable arm is unlocked. 
     
     
       14. The viewing apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the extender is secured at an inside connector portion thereof to and within an opening at the upper end of the outer tube. 
     
     
       15. The viewing apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the adjustable arm includes a bushing, which is secured to and within an opening at the lower end of the inner tube, the bushing including a periphery flange, ring or radial extension which serves as a catch in relation to a stop surface provided by an inside connector portion, thereby preventing the inner tube from being pulled out of engagement and a telescopic operational configuration with the outer tube. 
     
     
       16. A viewing apparatus that is selectively securable to surfaces, the viewing apparatus comprising:
 a mirror; 
 a base; and 
 an interconnection assembly between the mirror and the base; 
 wherein the base is configured to allow a user to selectively lock or unlock the viewing apparatus to/from a surface and includes a housing, a suction device supporting the housing, a lifter connected to the suction device, a lock/unlock selector supported by and rotatable in relation to the housing, and a coupler including guide surfaces, the coupler being operatively interconnected between interior surfaces of the selector and drive contacts of the lifter, the coupler repositioning with the selector as the selector is rotationally repositioned in relation to the housing, the guide surfaces raising or lowering the lifter and a central portion of the suction device in relation to the housing as the coupler is rotationally repositioned increasing or decreasing a volume of a space between an underside surface of the suction device and the surface depending upon a direction of rotation of the selector in relation to the housing to lock or unlock the viewing apparatus, respectively; 
 wherein the housing includes lower latches that position adjacent to interior portions of the selector securing and facilitating rotational repositioning of the selector in relation to the housing. 
 
     
     
       17. A viewing apparatus that is selectively securable to surfaces, the viewing apparatus comprising:
 a mirror; 
 a base; and 
 an interconnection assembly between the mirror and the base; 
 wherein the base is configured to allow a user to selectively lock or unlock the viewing apparatus to/from a surface and includes a housing, a suction device supporting the housing, a lifter connected to the suction device, a lock/unlock selector supported by and rotatable in relation to the housing, and a coupler including guide surfaces, the coupler being operatively interconnected between interior surfaces of the selector and drive contacts of the lifter, the coupler repositioning with the selector as the selector is rotationally repositioned in relation to the housing, the guide surfaces raising or lowering the lifter and a central portion of the suction device in relation to the housing as the coupler is rotationally repositioned increasing or decreasing a volume of a space between an underside surface of the suction device and the surface depending upon a direction of rotation of the selector in relation to the housing to lock or unlock the viewing apparatus, respectively; 
 wherein the housing includes a cap, positioned above the selector, and upper latches that locate and engage within inner wall recesses of the cap securing the cap to the housing and preventing rotational repositioning of the cap in relation to the housing. 
 
     
     
       18. The viewing apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the housing includes a lower housing portion with an opening configured to receive and laterally support the lifter therein. 
     
     
       19. The viewing apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the selector is supported between circumferential top periphery surfaces of the lower housing and circumferential bottom periphery surfaces of the cap. 
     
     
       20. A viewing apparatus that is selectively securable to surfaces, the viewing apparatus comprising:
 a mirror; 
 a base; and 
 an interconnection assembly between the mirror and the base; 
 wherein the base is configured to allow a user to selectively lock or unlock the viewing apparatus to/from a surface and includes a housing, a suction device supporting the housing, a lifter connected to the suction device, a lock/unlock selector supported by and rotatable in relation to the housing, and a coupler including guide surfaces, the coupler being operatively interconnected between interior surfaces of the selector and drive contacts of the lifter, the coupler repositioning with the selector as the selector is rotationally repositioned in relation to the housing, the guide surfaces raising or lowering the lifter and a central portion of the suction device in relation to the housing as the coupler is rotationally repositioned increasing or decreasing a volume of a space between an underside surface of the suction device and the surface depending upon a direction of rotation of the selector in relation to the housing to lock or unlock the viewing apparatus, respectively; 
 wherein the lifter includes drive bar portions extending from opposite sides of the lifter, and wherein the coupler includes guide surfaces within a cylindrical main body of the coupler, the guide surfaces including ridges over which the drive bar portions are repositioned to detent into recesses of the coupler when the selector is moved to a lock position of the selector.